Liverpool

Liverpool's population grew in the decade to 2011. At the same time there were changes in family life, housing tenure and marriage.

The population reached nearly 470,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Liverpool increased by 6.1%, from about 439,000 to 466,000.

The addition of almost 27,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Liverpool was home to, on average, 30 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres). This made it the North West's second-most densely-populated district.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Fewer homes with children

This area saw England's third-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households in Liverpool had at least one dependent child, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 59% to 63%.

The largest decrease occurred in Burnley (from 34% to 29%) followed by Isles of Scilly (from 24% to 20%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Liverpool that rented privately increased from 13% to 23% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households lived in social housing, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of Liverpool households that owner their home decreased from 52% to 47%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the North West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Liverpool increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of households in Liverpool, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Liverpool

This area saw the North West's largest rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership.

Across the region, Salford saw the next largest increase in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership (from 35% in 2001 to 43% in 2011).

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 30% to 36%.

In 2011, just under one in two (50%) people aged 16 and over in Liverpool said they were single, compared with 42% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 38% to 32%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Liverpool residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 14% to 8.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 64% in 2001. The percentage of Liverpool residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Liverpool decreased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Liverpool, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Liverpool

The number of people in Liverpool that described themselves as Christian increased from about 350,000 in 2001 to just over 330,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 79% to 71% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 78% to 67%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Liverpool that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 43,000 in 2001 to just under 83,000 in 2011 (from 9.7% to 18%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 36,000 to about 29,000 (from 8.1% to 6.2%).

Just over 15,000 people (1.4%) said they were Muslim, up from just over 5,900 in 2001 (3.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population who identified as Christian in Liverpool decreased by 8.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Liverpool by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

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